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Original poster

So, what do we think?

68 replies

santaslittleunicorn · 12/12/2005 23:20

lethal injection

Do you agree with the death penalty?

My primary thought so far, is, why has it taken 25 years?

Surely a death penalty should be executed (apologies) asap?

OP posts:
vicimelly · 13/12/2005 04:36

I don't agree with the death penalty. There is too much scope for innocent people being killed for a start, and why can't people be rehabilitated?
Why can't we make more of an effort to educate criminals and give them a new law abiding start in life?
I realise some people cannot be rehabilitated, well I think so anyway! but surely there must be a better way to deal with these people than killing them...two wrongs don't make a right surely???
How can any one person or any one group of people have the god given right to legally kill someone? Especially when they are killing that person for killing people!!! it makes no sense whatsoever.
We all as humans I think have kneejerk reactions to things, every time I hear of a child being abused in any way, I immediately think, hang the bastard, torture him and kill him.....but realisitically how would that help. We know it doesn't work as a deterrant, so why does it still happen? for our benefit? so we know they have paid for their crimes?
Having read the linked story I don't understand why this man is being executed, yes he may have killed some people and that is horrendous, but he is showing all signs of having being rehabilitated - on the limited info in the story.
Should he not be given a chance to prove himself??
I have read countless threads on smacking children, the number one argument that comes out is how can you smack a child and then tell them hitting people is wrong......it's a very logical argument. How can you kill someone to teach them and others that killing is wrong!! I just don't get it!

sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 13/12/2005 05:25

after the countless numbers of violent murders and incidents Arnie has profited from in terms of his screen career he would be a hypocrite of the highest order if he didn't accept some accountability for the glamourisation and perpetuation of street violence and reprieve the deat penalty for this man

vicimelly · 13/12/2005 05:49

very very good point Suzy, I hadn't even registered the Arnie relation in this story. I would find it hugely hipocrytical if he didn't reprieve this man.
As I've already said I have my own views on this, but aside from this given his history and as you've said 'glamorisation' of violence and killing. I don't see how he could possibly let this man be killed.

carla · 13/12/2005 06:11

Message deleted

vicimelly · 13/12/2005 06:55

I agree Carla, although obviously don't have the experience!! I imagine in that ammount of time you could very well establish rehabilitation. and even if it's not done. Those who have it in them...will do it anyway. Which is the impression I get from reading the reported story, although I admit it is just a reported story and may well not be the whole truth!!

vicimelly · 13/12/2005 06:56

Acually reading back am not sure I'm with you Carla, sorry if I've got it wrong but were you being sarcastic!? hard to tell with a posting!!!

katzglitterytree · 13/12/2005 07:57

i think its sad, what is killing this man going to achieve? it won't bring back the 4 people killed. if anythng it sends out the message that if someone is killed then killing in revenge is okay, because thats what this is about.

carla · 13/12/2005 08:07

Message deleted

aelita · 13/12/2005 09:55

I think he denied the specific murders levelled against him - he was quoted by the BBC as saying, "People say I have not apologised to the families of the victims. Why should I apologise to people when I didn't do it? That is an oxymoron."
I do have a problem with the death penalty; it's illogical to say ' it's wrong to kill, you killed, so we're going to kill you'. Like Suzy said though, I have a problem too with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's appeared in countless violent films, having official power of life or death. Seems like the ultimate hypocrisy.

aelita · 13/12/2005 10:07

..especially when you get headlines like that in today's Sun; 'Arnie terminates Tookie' - ugh!

leogaela · 13/12/2005 10:25

Its something that makes me feel physically sick to think about it. I understand the arguements for it and have tried to find justification for it but I can't, I am not religious but my heart and my concience says that it is wrong.... I think we should think of prison/punishment in terms of protecting society from harmful people not punishment. What is punishment? Does it ever have the required impact?

I think this crime and the death penalty needs to be viewed within the context of the US culture. The US gun laws makes weapons very available and (some) people are too familiar with them, using them is all too easy, this somehow reduces the value of the life of a stranger or an enemy life.

Before I say more I will read the article.

leogaela · 13/12/2005 10:28

I how much of the decision was based on Arnie's own personal feelings about it.

snowfalls · 13/12/2005 10:34

As much as I am tempted to say 'yes kill the b'''tards' I think it is hypicritical.

We all know we dont teach our children not to hit by smacking them.

So why kill a man for killing. It defeats the object.

noddyholder · 13/12/2005 10:46

Unbelievable that someone like Arnie should have this sort of power

gggimmesnowsnow · 13/12/2005 10:50

LOOK HERE NODDYHOLDER

noddyholder · 13/12/2005 10:52

Bloody hell!First time I have had my own thread Thanks v much Has made me feel a bit better about the dreaded dentist An hour to go!!

aelita · 13/12/2005 11:06

The current 'honour killing' story in the news (the perpetrators have just been sentenced) has a quote from the father of the victim;

"Arash?s dad Raheem tearfully called for the return of the death penalty. He said: ?I want hanging back. It means my boy could rest in peace.?

I don't see how it could in reality help this poor lad 'rest in peace', but then, I'm not his father having to try and come to terms with his murder....

wessexgirl · 13/12/2005 11:34

I agree with aelita on this - how can you say "Killing people is wrong...you killed somebody...so now I'm going to kill you..."

It just doesn't make sense, apart from the cold premeditated horror of it.

As for why it has taken 25 years, people on Death Row are permitted a number of appeals against their sentence, which take a long time to process. Plenty of people have been taken off Death Row after new evidence has been uncovered at appeal - wouldn't have helped them much if they were already dead.

Mistletoo · 13/12/2005 11:48

I think as America uphold the 'life' sentence that should be enough.

In this country though I think sentencing is joke. If someone is sentenced to 30 years then 30 years it should be.

It's laudible if someone becomes a reformed character, however the person they've trangressed against may not have been able to move on in the same way - particularly as all the helpful official bodies are mainly available to the criminal with only victim support available to the victim, something a bit wrong there.

triceroastingonanopenfire · 13/12/2005 11:54

I don't approve of the death penalty. It is more expensive than life imprisonment and forces other people to kill. I think murderers should have to live with what they have done and try to make amends.

I am never sorry when a murderer takes "the easy way out" though, I reckon putting a murder on suicide watch is bonkers, if they want to go they should be allowed to.

Arnie was elected by people who favour the death penalty. I would be surprised if he did not agree with it himself.

dejinglejags · 13/12/2005 12:14

I think the death penalty is wrong.

It makes the Executioner as bad as the criminal - in my eyes it doesn't matter if the state sanctions the "murder".

It doesn't have a specific impact on crime reduction - I read a study a while ago, but can't find the reference to it now.

I have to repeat myself - it's just plain wrong.

alLIOluia · 13/12/2005 12:15

I am also against death penalty but wanted to ask triceroasting about it being more expensive than life imprisonment ? is that true? In terms of money, I mean?

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 13/12/2005 12:17

The death penalty is wrong.

TheFish · 13/12/2005 12:18

its hardly a disincentive for the types of mursers that arent premeditated is it i

walkinginawinterBundleland · 13/12/2005 12:19

killing is wrong, so premeditated killing in the form of execution is absolutely wrong. the mark of - imo- an uncivilised society.